Maybe Murray needs to have a fire lit under his ass. Give his minutes to Delfino when CB gets back and let's see if that sparks any interest in him to start playing team ball. His one-on-one antics with 18 seconds left on the shot clock are ridiculous.

Delfino is still being effective with the minutes he is getting. I still can't understand why Flip doesn't play him more. It seems like the better he plays the fewer minutes he gets. Whenever he seems to start to get in the flow of the game; Flip takes him out. I just don't get it.

Click to expand...

Delfino plays defense (including the passing lanes), rebounds, handles and MIGHT finish. He has better chemistry, as he should. My personal belief is that most coaches who never played in the NBA (cept Daly) don't have a feel for when a player is hot or hurtin. Delf HAS been yanked at some inopportune times. FlipS can't seem to "read" that.

Murray's one on one play is killing us. 3 times the other night I saw Flip dribble right up to Delfino; look him off and take it on his own. Delfino was on the wing with a post player on the block waiting for the pass from Delfino but Delfino was never given the ball. Instead, Murray drives to the free throw line and pulls up for that ugly, spread-eagle J of his. Oh, and by the way; he was 1 for 9.

Click to expand...

Delfino is gonna get the "look-off" if confidence in his shot ain't there. He's doin the right thing by goin to the glass. That's the smart move and Delf's gotta keep that up. FlipM is SUPPOSED to be a scorer. He ain't deliverin. He's gotta go.

Delfino is gonna get the "look-off" if confidence in his shot ain't there. He's doin the right thing by goin to the glass. That's the smart move and Delf's gotta keep that up. FlipM is SUPPOSED to be a scorer. He ain't deliverin. He's gotta go.

Click to expand...

There seems to be this misconception floating around that Delfino can't shoot. Well, it's wrong, Delfino can shoot. And as he has played, his shot has gotten better. 36% rooky year, 40% last, 43% this year. NBA average is around 44%. Compared to the rest of the team, he shoots the same as Sheed and CB. And he's tied for 2nd (with CB) in 3 point shooting. If people don't have confidence in his shot, then who do they have it in? Only Rip, Prince, and the big guys shoot noticeably better % wise, and the big guys mostly make dunks.

So for the last time, I don't want to hear how CD can't shoot. Unless someone has some kind of stats to show otherwise, he can.

I have a feeling Delfino could lead the team in fg%, and people would still complain about his shooting.

BTW, Mr. Bigshot is a career 41% shooter, this is only the 2nd year ever, in his career where he is shooting 43% (rounding up) or higher, and the first time CB shot better than 43% was in his 8th year!!!!!

I've noticed that his shot has been really true when he has the time and space to go completely through his motion. Contrary to popular belief, he's developing nicely into a spot up jumpshooter because his mechanics are improving.

I've noticed that his shot has been really true when he has the time and space to go completely through his motion. Contrary to popular belief, he's developing nicely into a spot up jumpshooter because his mechanics are improving.

Click to expand...

Yep, according to 82games.com, he has the best eFG% on jumpshots of any player on the team at 50%. Last year his eFG% on jumpshots was 40.6%, and in his rookie year it was 34.5%. (Note: eFG% takes into account three pointers being worth more than 2's.)

That's very encouraging IMO. It shows he's been working on his game, and he's doing everything necessary to get on the floor. The first year, Larry knocked his defense (rightfully so), and he came in the following year one of our best perimeter defenders. Last year it was his jumpshot. Now he has improved leaps and bounds (noted in his FT% as well). How many guys go from a 57% FT shooter to an 87.5% FT shooter in only two years? Hopefully he shows Max a thing or two in that regard. And rebounding for that matter.

Next up he needs to work on his mid-range game and he needs to slow himself down when he gets near the rim. He looks like he's always trying to rush shots around the rim. If he learns how to do that and how to look for contact when he penetrates, Flip won't be able to keep him off the floor.

Yep, according to 82games.com, he has the best eFG% on jumpshots of any player on the team at 50%. Last year his eFG% on jumpshots was 40.6%, and in his rookie year it was 34.5%. (Note: eFG% takes into account three pointers being worth more than 2's.)

That's very encouraging IMO. It shows he's been working on his game, and he's doing everything necessary to get on the floor. The first year, Larry knocked his defense (rightfully so), and he came in the following year one of our best perimeter defenders. Last year it was his jumpshot. Now he has improved leaps and bounds (noted in his FT% as well). How many guys go from a 57% FT shooter to an 87.5% FT shooter in only two years? Hopefully he shows Max a thing or two in that regard. And rebounding for that matter.

Next up he needs to work on his mid-range game and he needs to slow himself down when he gets near the rim. He looks like he's always trying to rush shots around the rim. If he learns how to do that and how to look for contact when he penetrates, Flip won't be able to keep him off the floor.

If only he could speak better English! I think he has the ability to run the point or at least bring the ball and set the plays up, but there's a communication gap with 'Fino and that effects his production. He also should be at the 2 and not the 3 to make better use of his skill set. I can live with a back court of Hunter/Blalock and Delfino. Heck, Hunter/Blalock, 'Fino, Dupree, Max and Dice and the floor doesn't seem all that bad. On Offense: Hunter and "Fino can move the ball on the break (not the greatest of passer, but they will pass the ball) and Dupree and Max can finish strong. Our half court puts Dice and Max at the rim. Defence: Dupree will hustle and rebound.

I think he has the ability to run the point or at least bring the ball and set the plays up

Click to expand...

he definetely has- everyone who saw him during the world championships can tell you about that. He brought the ball up very often and ran some plays. I would love to see him doing that for the Pistons too.

Boy my jaw just about hit the floor this morning when I was reading the Free Press and quotes about Delfino being the only bright spot in the line-up with Chauncey out coming right from the twitching mouth of Flip Saunders. That must do a world of good for Carlos's confidence to have the coach say nice things about you that show up in the paper. Not that I'm a coach but I've always heard the philosophy of "praise in public, scold in private" works wonders on players. It's about time that Delfino will get some time running the point and look at the intriguing possibilities of having a big guard who can rebound looking to pass but still can drive and shoot the 3. It will create match-up problems for the other team but it does leave the Pistons vulnerable to the small quick guards that give us fits even when Chauncey is the PG. I'll be sitting back and getting the popcorn ready to see what happens once Chauncey gets back in the rotation to see if Flip Murray is still going to get minutes.

I hope when CB comes back we replace Murray as the back up PG with Delfino. I really believe that he can thrive at this position with all the weapons in front of him. Also think his shot would come around faster from here. He is a rythm player and I think that standing in the corner waiting for Rip and the other options without doing anything isn't helping him. He is a motion guy and needs to be moving. He is constantly cutting to the basket but it always seems like the play hasn't started yet.

That's the part I worry least about. If he can do a decent job containing Dwyane Wade and Leandro Barbosa at the 2, he can do a respectable job on most point guards, or at least as good a job as Chauncey and Flip can. The Tony Parkers, Allen Iversons, Devin Harrises - maybe not, but the Pistons have traditionally assigned Rip and Lindsey Hunter to those players anyway.

I'd worry more about his ability to handle full-court pressure from smaller players; Rajon Rondo had some success with that in the Boston game. He didn't cough it up, but he didn't have the speed or handle to dribble past it immediately, either.

That's the part I worry least about. If he can do a decent job containing Dwyane Wade and Leandro Barbosa at the 2, he can do a respectable job on most point guards, or at least as good a job as Chauncey and Flip can. The Tony Parkers, Allen Iversons, Devin Harrises - maybe not, but the Pistons have traditionally assigned Rip and Lindsey Hunter to those players anyway.

I'd worry more about his ability to handle full-court pressure from smaller players; Rajon Rondo had some success with that in the Boston game. He didn't cough it up, but he didn't have the speed or handle to dribble past it immediately, either.

Click to expand...

Play him with Lindsey Hunter and Lindsey guards the point. Of course Flip will put the ball in Lindsey's hands and Carlos will be spotting up on the weak side.

There seems to be this misconception floating around that Delfino can't shoot. Well, it's wrong, Delfino can shoot. And as he has played, his shot has gotten better. 36% rooky year, 40% last, 43% this year. NBA average is around 44%. Compared to the rest of the team, he shoots the same as Sheed and CB.

Click to expand...

See this is what happens when you rely on STATS to tell you the whole truth. "Stats" sure don't tell you when shots were hit or missed. They don't have "stats" for body language. Delfino might finish and he might not. Every time he shoots, I'm hollarin "NO NO." Same with Lindsey.

Ya know 16 as I'm typing this, I feel a lil better about Delfino overall. His best spot just might be at point since he ain't gonna light em up consistently. But that's OK if he plays within his game. But when it comes to pure shooting, let's not have a double standard for Delfino and LH.

In those situations this year, Carlos is 2 for 2 from inside the paint and 5 for 8 from outside, with one 3-pointer (which was very memorable). He leads the team with a FG% of .600 and an eFG of .700 under pressure.

''I'd worry more about his ability to handle full-court pressure from smaller players; Rajon Rondo had some success with that in the Boston game. He didn't cough it up, but he didn't have the speed or handle to dribble past it immediately, either.''

Another issue for Chauncey that suddenly disappeared when LB arrived. It's a valid concern for Delfino, but there's ways around that. Keeping another guard back for the first 5 seconds of the shot clock isn't going to kill the offense, I wouldn't think.